Labeling machine with container for transport of stacked labels

ABSTRACT

In a labeling machine including a magazine from which labels are dispensed for labeling, means for delivering a stack of said labels from a position of readiness to said magazine, and means for advancing said stack from a stand-by position to said position of readiness, the improvement which comprises a container for each stack of labels in said stand-by position said container having opposite ends and being provided at least at its end facing said magazine with separable areas, whereby upon actuation of said means for delivering said stack from said position of readiness to said magazine said separable areas separate to permit delivery of said stack of labels while said container stays in said position of readiness.

United States Patent Strack LABELING MACHINE WITH CONTAINER FORTRANSPORT OF STACKED LABELS [75] Inventor: Hans Josef Strack, Monheim,

Germany [73] Assignee: Jagenberg Werke AG, Dusseldorf,

Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 418,140

[52] US. Cl. 221/79 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 47/82 [58] Field of Search221/26, 64, 79, 81, 104, 221/105, 271/4; 214/309, 310

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,996,001 8/1961 Schlegel eta1 271/3 X 3,040,727 6/1962 Edwards et a1. 221/79 X 3,260,404 7/1966Critchell 3,476,265 11/1969 Powers 214/310 X Primary Examiner-Stanley H.Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burgess, Dinklage & Sprung [57]ABSTRACT, I

In a labeling machine includinga magazine from which labels aredispensed for labeling, means for delivering a stack of said labels,from a positionof readi- 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LABELING MACHINEWITH CONTAINER FOR TRANSPORT OF STACKED LABELS The invention relates toa transport and reloading container to accommodate a stack of labelswhich is moved from a position of readiness into the label magazine of alabeling machine. In particular the invention relates to a transport andreloading container suitable for the automatic reloading of the labelmagazine of a labeling machine.

To facilitate the operation of modern high-output labeling machinesautomatic apparatus have been developed which assure an uninterrupteddelivery of the labels to the point at which they are taken out andhence an uninterrupted operation of the labeling machine. In theseapparatus a stack of labels placed in a position of readiness is pushedout of this position of readiness into the emptying label magazine ofthe labeling machine. Essential to such operation is the automaticmoving of the label stacks into the position of readiness in step withthe sequence of operations; this is accomplished in the prior-artapparatus by means of a periodically revolving conveyor means which isequipped with cells to accommodate the label stacks and with a devicefor pushing the label stacks out.

In these apparatus, however, the handling of the label stacks presentsdifficulties due to the fact that the stacks are usually tied togetherby means of a strip and are delivered individually wrapped. Therefore,after unwrapping the label stack the operator must remove the strip thatholds it together, so that the danger exists that the stack of labelsmay fall apart upon insertion into the cells of the conveyor means.

The invention is addressed to the problem of devising an easy-to-handlelabel package in the form of a transport and reloading container forlabel stacks which will satisfy the special requirements of theoperation of automatic label feeding systems in high-output labelingmachines.

This problem is solved by suitable modification of a labeling machineincluding a magazine from which labels are dispensed for labeling, meansfor delivering a stack of said labels from a position of readiness tosaid magazine, and means for advancing said stack from a stand-byposition to said position of readiness. In accordance with the inventionthere is provided a container for each stack of labels in said stand-byposition, said container having opposite ends and being provided atleast at its end facing said magazine with separable areas, whereby uponactuation of said means for delivering said stack from said position ofreadiness to said magazine said separable areas separate to permitdelivery of said stack of labels which said while stays in said positionof readiness. One of the ends of the container may be divided intoseparable individual areas while the other end is provided with anopening.

In accordance with the invention the separable individual areas of oneor both ends may be integral and joined along a weakened score line inthe form of a perforation or the like, or else the separable areas ofone or both ends may be joined together by a mechanical locking in theform of interlocking tabs or the like.

Another feature in accordance with the invention resides in the factthat the portions of the container ends which are articulated to thesides of the container serve in the separated state, i.e., during theejection of the label stack, as a guiding aid between the container andthe label magazine. To assure that the transport and reloading containerremains in position during the ejection of the labels, holding edges areprovided on the ends of the container outside of the area covered by thelabels.

The advantage achieved with the invention lies primarily in the easyhandling, which is due to the fact that the operator can insert thelabel stack into the feeding device in the form in which it isdelivered, without further preparation. Another advantage is to be seenin the fact that the procedure of wrapping relatively short stacks oflabels is eliminated and accordingly longer stacks of labels may beused.

The subject matter of the invention is described hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an automatic apparatus forreloading the label magazine of a bottle labeling machine;

FIG. 2 shows a transport and reloading container, in closed state, forloop labels for the necks of bottles;

FIG. 3 shows the container represented in FIG. 2 in the opening state;

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the container in initial condition;

FIG. 5 is a view of the container of FIG. 4 in the opening state; and

FIG. 6 shows the end of a transport and reloading container for backlabels for containers.

As seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus for refilling the label magazine 1feeding a labeling machine which is not shown consists of a cyclicallyadvancing conveyor means 2 in the form of a rotating table which isprovided with cells 3 to accommodate the transport and reloadingcontainers 5 containing the label stacks 4.

A plunger 6, preferably hydraulically operated in step with thereloading action, pushes the label stack 4 out of its position ofreadiness into the label magazine 1, leaving the container 5 in cell 3.

The transport and reloading container 5 accommodating the label stack 4is preferably constructed as a folding box which partially or whollyenvelops the label stack 4. In the case of the embodiments representedin FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the end walls of the container 5 are divided bymeans of lines of perforations 7 into separable individual areas orflaps 8 and 9. These individual areas 8 and 9, articulated to the sidesof container 5, separate, as indicated in FIG. 3, under the pressure ofthe label stack 4 being pushed by the plunger 6 and serve in their endposition as a transfer aid between the container 5 and the labelmagazine 1.

In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, the separable individualareas 10, 11, are joined to one another by a mechanical locking means 13in the form of an interlocking closure which is also unfastened by thepressure of the ejected label stack 4. The arrangement may in all casesbe made such that the end of the container 5 facing the plunger 6 is notdivided into separable individual areas but is provided with an openingwhose shape and size permits the plunger to pass through it to eject thelabel stack. 7

In the ends of container 5 there are furthermore pro vided holding edges14 located outside of the label areas. These holding edges 14 will abutagainst stops which are fastened to the conveyor means 2 or to the cells3, and which are not shown in the drawing, these stops assuring thatcontainer 5 will remain in cell 3 i 'said container is open at its endopposite that having while the label stack 4 is being ejected.

it will be appreciated that the instant specification and examples areset forth by the way of illustration and not limitation, and thatvarious modifications and changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a labeling machine including a magazine from which labels aredispensed for labeling, a stack of labels, means for delivering saidstack of labels from a position of readiness to said magazine, and meansfor advancing said stack from a stand-by position to said position ofreadiness, the improvement which comprises a container for each stack oflabels in said standby position, said container in part having the sameshape as said label stack, having opposite ends and being provided atleast at its end facing said magazine with separable end flaps, wherebyupon actuation of said means for delivering said stack from saidposition of readiness to said magazine said separable flaps separate topermit delivery of said stack of labels which stack leaves saidcontainer while said container stays in said position of readiness, saidsimilar shapes providing sliding guided contact of said stack relativeto said container.

2. A labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said separableflaps.

3. A labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said separable flapsare integral with one another, the joinder therebetween being weakened.

4. A labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein said separable flapsseparably interlock with one another.

5. A labeling machine according to claim 1, said container including apair of longitudinal sides which at their front edges are respectivelyarticulated to the separable flaps, said flaps when separated serving astransfer aid for the stack in moving from the container to the magazine.

6. A labeling machine according to claim 1, including abutment means onsaid magazine or in said position of readiness, said container includingholding means at its end facing said magazine outside of the path of thelabels in moving from said container to said magazine, whereby uponmovement of said labels into said magazine said holding means engagessaid abutment means so that said container remains in said position ofreadi-

1. In a labeling machine including a magazine from which labels aredispensed for labeling, a stack of labels, means for delivering saidstack of labels from a position of readiness to said magazine, and meansfor advancing said stack from a stand-by position to said position ofreadiness, the improvement which comprises a container for each stack oflabels in said stand-by position, said container in part having the sameshape as said label stack, having opposite ends and being provided atleast at its end facing said magazine with separable end flaps, wherebyupon actuation of said means for delivering said stack from saidposition of readiness to said magazine said separable flaps separate topermit delivery of said stack of labels which stack leaves saidcontainer while said container stays in said position of readiness, saidsimilar shapes providing sliding guided contact of said stack relativeto said container.
 2. A labeling machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid container is open at its end opposite that having said separableflaps.
 3. A labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein saidseparable flaps are integral with one another, the joinder therebetweenbeing weakened.
 4. A labeling machine according to claim 1, wherein saidseparable flaps separably interlock with one another.
 5. A labelingmachine according to claim 1, said container including a pair oflongitudinal sides which at their front edges are respectivelyarticulated to the separable flaps, said flaps when separated serving astransfer aid for the stack in moving from the container to the magazine.6. A labeling machine according to claim 1, including abutment means onsaid magazine or in said position of readiness, said container includingholding means at its end facing said magazine outside of the path of thelabels in moving from said container to said magazine, whereby uponmovement of said labels into said magazine said holding means engagessaid abutment means so that said container remains in said position ofreadiness.